July 31st Newsletter

Happy Summer Everyone! We know that this is not the summer that you expected it to be and you are probably not doing many of the things that you would like to be doing. But…we should be thankful for this beautiful place where we live and operate our businesses. Please travel safely and enjoy all of the wonderful places and people in the Shuswap and throughout BC. We encourage everyone to please be kind, courteous and lift those up around you; we all need it now more than ever before!

The Business Recovery and Expansion Program will offer 6 months of group and private coaching that is preceded by an in-depth, on line assessment of each participant’s business. The assessment tool when complete indicates the issues, strengths and opportunity for growth and improvement in a report format that provides the basis for the business strategy changes.

This program will help you re-invent your business and help guide you through any crisis that you may experience – now and into the future.

Nearly one-quarter of businesses in the Shuswap are owned and operated by women, and many of them are getting help and support from a program specifically designed to help them take their companies to the next level.

Tsuts’weye (pronounced “soots-way-a”) is a three-year, federally funded initiative managed through Western Economic Diversification Canada and facilitated locally through Community Futures Shuswap. The project supports female-owned or led enterprises within the Shuswap region and is available to businesses in any phase of operation: start-ups through to long-standing established companies. This program is available to ALL Shuswap female owned businesses.

The stories of Kate Bischke owner of Shuswap Float and Wellness; and Patti Homes co-owner of Styleline Interiors have been featured in the latest Shuswap Magazine coming out this weekend. Both of these ladies have taken advantage of the many opportunities available through the Tsuts’weye program. Patti is also excited about the new Business Recovery & Expansion Training program.

With COVID-19 continuing to ravage many female-dominated industries, women are deciding now is the time to pour their extra time into their passion projects and turning the dream of running their own business into a reality. But, if you’re one of the countless female entrepreneurs that also has children at home now, the days may feel like an obstacle course regardless of how early you get up, or how late you burn the midnight oil.

In the Shuswap, many small businesses were ravaged by two consecutive years of fires in the summers of 2017 and 2018, only to be hit with a global pandemic and subsequent lockdown in 2020. Female-led small businesses are feeling the pinch more now than ever before. Who knew that childcare would weigh-in as a key priority in a global pandemic? Read more here!

Do you operate a business in the Shuswap? Rural business owners – we’d really like to hear from you. Share your business experience through this 10 minute survey.

The Shuswap Economic Response (SER) Program is an initiative led by Community Futures Shuswap, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, Shuswap Economic Development, Shuswap Tourism and the Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Network, and supported by Chambers of Commerce and community organizations throughout the region. The SER program is gathering information to inform COVID-19 response measures to support regional businesses.

Please consider contributing approximately 10 minutes of your time to share your information. Individual responses will be kept confidential.

Support Local BC provides a place for communities and businesses throughout the province to support each other. It connects all regions and is a platform where you can show your love for your favorite local businesses by purchasing gift cards for future use. This is a great way to encourage family and friends to purchase gift cards to use when they can discover the Shuswap region…later! For more information or to add your business go here and then let your know your business is listed on this website! This initiative is sponsored by Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, Shuswap Economic Development, Shuswap Tourism, and Downtown Salmon Arm.

Join the Tsuts’weye Network Business Directory and share your business on our website. Business Profile listings are free. We encourage our members to #ShopShuswap as much as possible. Let’s support each other. To get your business profile on this page, simply fill out our Business Profile Form and email it to us! Check out the listings on the Tsuts’weye website.

• Marketing for Small Business – Friday, July 31, 2020 – register here – also offered on September 10, 2020
• Business Viability 1: The Break-Even Analysis – Tuesday August 4, 2020 – register here – also available on September 22, 2020.
• Business Viability Package – Explaining Cash Flow Forecasts and the Break Even Analysis – Tuesday, August 4, 2020 – register here – also available on September 22, 2020.
• Business Mapping: Developing a Smart Business Model – Mastering the Business Model Canvas – Wednesday, Sept 9, 2020 – register here

• BC Ideas Exchange Webinar: B.C.’s Venture Capital Tax Credit Program – Helping Small Businesses Raise Investment Capital – Thursday, August 20, 10 am – 11 am PST – register here

• Back to Business Goal Setting Workshop – Wednesday, August 5 @ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Succeeding in the New Normal for Business – register here
• Facebook for Business (Beginner) – Tuesday August 11 @ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – register here
• Social Media for Small Business – Tuesday, August 11 @ 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• Using Social Media for Success – register here
• Market Research 2: Surveys and Focus Groups – Thursday, August 13 @ 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM – Primary Market Research to Understand Your Customer – register here

Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur & Innovation Network can provide services to your business, whether you are a new business, or have been in business many years. These services are provided free of charge, thanks to the financial support of Community Futures Shuswap and Western Economic Diversification.

To access these services please complete the Client Intake Form and then send to Caroline Grover, our Entrepreneur in Residence by email or call her directly at 250-300-4757.

For more information about this program go to the Tsuts’weye website.

Payment Deadline Extension for income tax returns – Canada Revenue Agency is extending the payment due date for current year individual, corporate, and trust income tax returns, including instalment payments, from September 1st, to September 30th, 2020. Penalties and interest will not be charged if payments are made by the extended deadline. More information here

The Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, is providing loans of up to $40,000 for eligible women-run businesses to help businesses cope with financial hardship and recovery from economic disruption resulting from COVID-19.

Women’s Enterprise Centre is pleased to provide access to this Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) to women entrepreneurs in BC. If you think your business requires additional financing to recover this could be a good option for you.

This option is available for sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations. More information here.

Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Extended to December 2020 – Information here on the new updates to the CEWS.

• Province of BC – COVID-19 resources for BC Businesses and individuals – updates as of July 29, 2020.
• Find PPE for your business to safely reopen – Small Business BC has created a Non-Medical PPE Marketplace to connect businesses with suppliers of non-medical safety equipment.
• WorkSafe BC –  COVID-19 information and resources updated for safe operations for Phase 3.
• BC Economic Development Association – COVID19 Resources for BC Businesses.
• BDC – COVID-19 – Resources and support for BC businesses. Webinars for businesses resources recovery.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) -Shuswap-Revelstoke – for resources to assist you please click here
• Community Futures BC – COVID-19 Business Resources.
• Destination BC – COVID19 Resources for the Tourism Industry – updated July 23, 2020.
• GO2HR – Restarting business operations after COVID-19 industry sector best practices guides here.
• Greater Vancouver Board of Trade – COVID19 resources and Business Reinvention Series Webinars – more information here.
• Salmon Arm Economic Development Society – Business Restart Toolkit – Resources for businesses to reopen and mo
• Small Business BC – Resources for restarting your business in the new normal.
• Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association – Tourism Resiliency Program – Resources for Tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan Tourism region.
• Tourism Industry Association of BC – C-19 Bulletin – July 29, 2020
• Women’s Enterprise Centre – Assisting women entrepreneurs through recovery – Resources and Support..

(Pronounced “Soots-way-e”, means butterfly, in Secwepemc)

Tsuts’weye is a federally-funded project through Western Economic Development Canada, to support women entrepreneurs in the Shuswap through building skills, knowledge and networks.

Please visit Tsutsweye.ca to learn more about the project and the team.

CONTACT US:

Online at  Tsutsweye.ca 

Please call ahead to make an appointment.